NPA kills 30 ‘spies’in Visayas

CATBALOGAN, Samar – The Sparrow Unit of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas summarily executed at least 30 people suspected of being military and police spies.

Records at the Army’s 8th Infantry Division revealed that the 30 victims include two policemen, four militiamen, 15 suspected military informers and nine notorious criminals. They were all killed in the last two years.

Army Col. Romeo Velasco said there were also an undetermined number of atrocities perpetrated by the communist rebels, such as the burning or destroying of private and government installation, for failure to comply to the demands of the group.

The NPA seized from their victims some 26 M16 Armalite rifles, 14 M14 rifles, 23 handguns, three shotguns and various items from February 2000 to May 2002.– Ricky Bautista